Industry Statistics

By the numbers…

Sometimes words can’t do justice to the story of pre-employment screening. The statistics below describe, in further detail, the kinds of workplace risks HR TruCheck’s screening services will help you avoid.

False Information

  • 53% of all job applications contain inaccurate information.
    *Source: Source: Society of Human Resources Management, 2003
  • In a survey conducted by CareerBuilder.com, 49% of the 3,100 hiring managers surveyed had caught a job applicant fabricating some part of his/her resume.
    *Source: CareerBuilder.com Survey, 2008
  • 34% of all application forms contain outright lies about experience, education, and ability to perform essential functions on the job.
    *Source: Wall Street Journal, 2003
  • 9% of job applicants falsely claimed they had a college degree, listed false employers, or identified jobs that didn’t exist.
    *Source: Resume Inflation: Two Wrongs May Mean No Rights, by Barbara Kat Repa, Nolo.com, 2001
  • 11% of job applicants misrepresented why they left a former employer.
    *Source: Resume Inflation: Two Wrongs May Mean No Rights, by Barbara Kat Repa, Nolo.com, 2001
  • Nearly one-third of job applications listed dates of employment that were inaccurate by more than three months.
    *Source: Resume Inflation: Two Wrongs May Mean No Rights, by Barbara Kat Repa, Nolo.com, 2001

Form I-9 Penalties

  • Since Fiscal Year 2009, ICE has audited more than 6,000 employers suspected of hiring illegal labor, debarred more than 400 companies and individuals, and imposed more than $76 million in financial sanctions.
    *Source: U.S. Department of Homeland Security, Testimony of Secretary Janet Napolitano 10/26/2011
  • In Fiscal Year 2011, ICE criminally arrested 221 employers accused of violations related to employment, an agency record
    *Source: U.S. Department of Homeland Security, Testimony of Secretary Janet Napolitano 10/26/2011

On-The-Job Violence

  • The most common effects of workplace violence incidents on employees include decreased morale, decreased sense of safety, decreased productivity, decreased trust among co-workers and increased stress and depression.
    *Source: SHRM Survey Findings: Workplace Violence, 2012
  • Up to 5% of American workplaces experience a workplace violence episode annually.
    *Source: OSHA Forms Alliance Focusing on Workplace Violence, by Roy Maurer, Society of Human Resources Management, 2009
  • FBI Studies estimate nearly 355,000 businesses will experience a workplace violence episode in any given year.
    *Source: Source: OSHA Forms Alliance Focusing on Workplace Violence, by Roy Maurer, Society of Human Resources Management, 2009
  • 13% of the 5,840 workplace fatalities that happened in 2006 were the result of assaults and violent acts.
    *Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2008
  • There were 11,613 workplace homicide victims between 1992 and 2006, averaging just under 800 homicides per year.
    *Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics’ Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries, 1992-2006
  • Of those establishments reporting an incident of workplace violence in the previous 12 months, 21% reported that the incident affected the fear level of their employees and employee morale.
    *Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Survey of Workplace Violence Prevention, 2005

Drugs

  • More than 75% of substance abusers are employed.
    *Source: Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, Office of Applied Studies, 2008
  • In 2007, 8.4% of those employed full-time were current illicit drug users, and 8.8% reported heavy alcohol use.
    * Source: Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, Office of Applied Studies, 2008
  • Substance abusers change jobs as frequently as 3 times a year.
    * Source: Worker Substance Use and Workplace Policies and Programs, by SAMHSA, 2007
  • Substance abusers are at least 33% less productive.
    * Source: Working Partners, National Conference Proceedings Report, sponsored by U.S. Department of Labor, the SBA, and the Office of National Drug Control Policy, 1992
  • Substance abusers are 2.5 times more likely to be absent 8+ days a year.
    * Source: Working Partners, National Conference Proceedings Report, sponsored by U.S. Department of Labor, the SBA, and the Office of National Drug Control Policy, 1992
  • Drug abusers cost twice as much in medical and worker comp claims as drug-free workers.
    * Source: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, National Institute on Drug Abuse, 2002

Employee Theft

  • In 2008, the majority of retail shrinkage was due to employee theft at $15.9 billion, which represented almost half of losses (44%).
    *Source: National Retail Federation Security Survey, 2008
  • In 2008, the average employee theft case was $2,672.
    *Source: National Retail Federation Security Survey, 2008
  • 30% of all business failures are caused by employee theft.
    *Source: American Management Association and US Chamber of Commerce
  • In 2007, one in every 28.2 employees was apprehended for theft from their employer.
    *Source: Jack Hayes International, Inc., 2007
  • The FBI calls employee theft the fastest growing crime in America. 55% of perpetrators of employee theft are managers.
    *Source: American Society of Employers
  • 75% of all employees steal at least once.
    *Source: U.S. Chamber of Commerce

Bad Hires

  • Negligent hiring cases have had verdicts of up to $40 million.
    *Source: Gurtin vs. Nurse Connection, et. al., 2002
  • The average settlement of a negligent hiring lawsuit is nearly $1 million.
    *Source: Human Resources Management, 2008
  • Employers have lost more than 79% of negligent hiring cases.
    *Source: Fortune, 2/00
  • It costs $7,000 to replace a salaried employee, $10,000 to replace a mid-level employee, and $40,000 to replace a senior executive.
    *Source: Recruiting Times
  • The U.S. Department of Labor estimates that the average cost of a bad hiring decision can equal 30% of the first year’s potential earnings.
    *Source: U.S. Department of Labor
  • Replacing supervisory, technical and management personnel can cost from 50 to several hundred percent of the person’s salary.
    *Source: Society for Human Resource Management, Recruitment and Selection Presentation, 2008